Outdoor metal-clad switchgear



e.--\..-. CLAYBOURN ETAL 2,615,775

OUTDOOR METAL-GLAD swrrcuqma Oct. .28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 30, 1947 s R O T N E v m z n e a Patented Oct. 28, 1952 OUTDOOR .lVI'ETAL-CUAD' SWITCHGEAR Glen L. Claybourn and P-aulj'Koesis, Jr, ,Iitts-f burgh, Pa., assig'nors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of- Pennsylvania- Application-October 30, 1941, Serial Nip-783,170

Our invention relates, generally, tometal-clad switchgear. and,.more particularly, .to metal-clad switchgear-of the enclosed unit type suitable for outdoor. service.

v This application is a continu'ation-in'epart of our-copending application, Serial No. 744,806, filed April 30, 1947, now Patent No. 2,554,240, of May. 22', 1951, which is directed primarily to a roof structure for metal-clad switchgear.

An object-of our invention, generally stated,.

is toprovide metal-clad switchgear of the unit type which shall be simple and efilcientin'operation and which may be economically manufactured" and installed.

A" more specific object'ofour invention provide enclosed metal-clad switchgear. which may be manufactured in standard units and as- .sembled with any desired number of units joined together in side-by-side relatiom.

Another, object of our invention is for increasing or: decreasing the numberrofunits in a switchgear installation;

I A furtherobject of our. invention is to1p1'o- 'vide a unitary' base "for supporting'a metal-clad switchgear unit.

Other objectsrof our invention will be" explained fully hereinafter'orwlll be apparent to those'skilled in the art."

' In a'ccordance-with one embodiment'oi'our invention, a basic metal enclosed switchgear unit liousing'including the baseand the roofstructure is so constructed that it may be installed individually or withany desired-number-of units joined together in side-'by-side-relation. The number of units in a switchgear installation may be" increased by adding additional units similar to the. basic unit'on either side of the basic unit.

For'a better understanding of-the 'natureand objectsofour invention, reference maybe'had to'the following detailed description, taken-in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings,- in

which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a metalenclosed switchgearstructure embodying the principal features of-our invention; portions of "thestructure being broken away for clearness;

' Fig.1 2 is-a'view, in front elevation, of the structureshownin Figure 1:1

Fig., 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in secti'on" and partly inelevation, of the upper'left hand "portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2, taken generally along the line III-III'ot'Flg.'1.

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, oftheupper center portion of the structure shown in'FigJ2;

Fig: 511s an enlarged detail view; partlyin 'secis toto: provide 5CIaims. (c1: 31 2: 107) v y gionptaken generally' along-the line V-\[' of g. .2; Fig; 6 15a view', similar' to Fig. 3, showing a modification orthe invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view, insection, taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 2; i

Fig; 8is'aview, similar to Figure 1, portions oi'the'structuregbeingremoved;

Fig: 9 is'an-enlarged view, in sectiomofthe irontportionof "(meet the basic units-of metalenclosed switchgear;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view, in section, ofthe irontporti'on of one of the units suitable for adding jto "a' basic-"unit;

Fig." 11'is arr'enlarged viewyin' section-of a portion-oi two'units joined to ther;

' ,Fi'g 12 1s an'enlarged detail viewof one-corner of "the structure shown in Fig: 2 portions being broken awayior clearness, and 13 isan'enlarged view, insection, taken along the line XIII'X III"of Fi 2;"

' Referring to the drawingsand particularly to Figs: 1and 2, the structure shown therein comprises =a-pair of-metal-clad switchgear unit housings l0 and II which are disposed in .side-by-side relation: The units are of the type which issuitable for'outdoor service, the switchgear apparatus beingf enclosed in sheet metal housings;

'Asshown; each housing-may be provided with a hinged door: [2 iattheifont and aisimilari'door II at the-rear; The main portion of the housings may be constructed by mounting side plates: I4

and 4* and-the doors l2and13'on1a metal framework, which' will be described morerfullyrhereinafter;

Channel-"members I51 and" I6? maybe provided above the doors l2 and: I3; respectively; Angle members ll 'mayialso be provided above the side plates l 4 andv I l. The entire structure; maybe mounted'upon a suitable'base ltigxwhichwill be describedmore'fully hereinafter: :1

In "order to protect the apparatusswithinzthe 'housings' against the elements andiat the same time, make it" possible to readily add "additional units to the assembly when desired; we have devised the roof structure herein described'andillustra'ted; As shown'most clearly inFl'gsi-B, 4

' and 6, the roofstructure' comprises a metal roof sheet 2| for each housingunit. The sides' of each" roof sheet 2| arebent'at' rightangles-to and upwardly from the roof surface to form upstandingflanges 22'.

As shoum in Flgsi 1 and 5, the endsoieach roof sheet 21 extend beyond the unit enclosure atboth'-the iront' and the rear; of the housing trim plates 35.

As shown in Fig. 4, the seam between the flanges I 22 on adjacent units may be sealed by an angleshaped metal plate 25 having legs 26 of equal length. The sealing plate 25 may be retained in position by tongue plates 21 which are secured v -units to the complete assembly may be readily to the sealing plate and are disposed between the flanges 22.

The tongue plates 21 extend below the bottom surfaces of the roof sheets 2| and are provided with slots 28 (see Fig. 5) through which wedges 28 are driven. A screw 3| may be inserted in each wedge 29, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to retain the wedges in position. Strips of felt 32, or similar material, may be cemented on the underside of the sealing plate 25 on each side of the tongue plates 21 to close the joint between the flanges 22 and the sealing plate 25.

It will be seen that the upward extending flanges 22 effectively prevent moisture from seeping into the housing. The sealing plate 25 prevents wind-blown rain, snow or dirt from entering the housing through the joint between the two flanges.

As shown in Fig. 5, a baiile plate 33 may be provided at each end of the angle-shaped plate 25 to close the ends of the sealing plate. The opening between the downwardly bent ends of adjacent roof sheets 2I may be closed by a formed sheet metal cover strip 34 which may be bolted to the drip edge of the roof sheets and extends under the lower edge of the end bafiie plates 33. The bafile plates 33 may be welded to the inside of the angle-shaped sealing plate 25. The shape and contour of the sealing plate is maintained by the baffle plates which are cut to fit inside of the sealing plate.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the outside flanges 22 of the roof sheets may be covered by The trim plates 35 are also angular in shape, but, as shown, one leg 36 is considerably longer than the other leg 31. The outside leg 36 extends down over the angle H of the housing.

Each trim plate 35 may be retained in position in a manner similar to the sealing plate 25. Tongue plates 38 are secured to the trim plate and are disposed adjacent the outside flange 22. The wedges 29 may be driven through the slotted tongue plates 38 underneath the surface of the roof sheet 2|, thereby holding the trim plate in position. The felt strips 32 may be provided for sealing the joint between the trim plate 35 and the upper edge of the flange 22. As shown in Fig. 2, cover plates 39 may be provided for the ends of the trim plates 35. The cover plates 39 may be held in position in the same manner as the cover plates 34.

As shown in Fig. 7, the joint at one edge of the door I2 may be quite effectively sealed by a Z bar 4| which is welded to th side plate I4. A trim strip may be bolted in position on the side plate I4 by bolts 42. As shown in Fig. 9, the joint at the other edge of the door I2 may be sealed by a Z bar 46 which is welded to a trim strip 41 to which the side plate I4 may be removably attached by bolts 42. The door I2 may be hinged to the Z bar H by hinges 48, as shown in Fig. 7.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the tongue plates 38 and the wedges 29 are omitted, and the leg 36 of the trim plate 35 is bolted to the side plate I4 of the housing by bolts 43. A combined spacing and sealing strip 44 may be disposed between the leg 36 and the side plate I4. The strip 44 may be secured in position by the bolts 43.

It will be seen that, if desired, a roof sheet may be replaced by another sheet having bushings therein for making electrical connections to apparatus within a housing. Furthermore, the removal of a unit or the installation of additional done at any time. The joint between the old units and the additiona1 units may be sealed in the manner herein described. Also, since the trim and the sealing plates are held in position by means of wedges, it is not necessary to provide holes through the roof members or the trim and sealing plates to secure them in position.

In order to facilitate the manufacture and the assembly of the complete housing units, and also to make it possible to readily add additional units to a switchgear installation, each housing unit is provided with the base I8 which is of a unitary construction. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1. 2, l2 and 13, each base comprises side members 5I which are formed from sheet steel into an angle shape, a cross member 52 which isalso of an angle shape and is disposed substantially'midway between the ends of the side members 5 I, and end cross members 53 which are of an angle shape having a depending flange 54 on one leg of the angle. The side and cross members may be welded together to form an integral unit.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 12, the ends of the side members 5| may be bent inwardly and provided with holes 55 which may be utilized to attach a cover strip (not shown). The depending flanges 54 function as j ambs for the bottoms of the doors I2 and I3. Also, they may be utilized for retaining a circuit breaker transfer dolly imposition when the circuit breaker is being placed in the housing.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 13, the base is supported on suitable foundation members by means of 2 bars 56, one of which is provided at each end of the base. The Z bars may be welded to the side members 5I and to the cross members 53. As shown, the bottom flange of each Z bar extends below theside members 5|. thereby providing a slight amount of clearance between the side members and the foundation members.

If desired, the Z bars maybe made from stainless steel or other non-corrosive material, thereby preventing rusting by contact with moistureretaining materials. The rusting or corroding of the base members may be still further retarded by coating the under side of the base with an asphalt material.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 13, holes 51 are provided in the side members 5I near each end to permit adjacent bases to be bolted together. Reinforcing pads 53 which are provided with holes in alignment with the holes 51 may be welded to the side members to strengthen the structure. A bottom coverplate 59 may be welded to the side members 5|. A filler strip 60 (see Fig. 8) may be welded on the left-hand side member 5| in the space between the bottoms of the trim strips 41 and 41'.

'As shown most clearly in Figs. 8 to 11, the

framework for the housing comprises the vertithe rear, respectively. The angle members I'lv may be welded tothe cross members I and I 6-.

Angle bars 6| may be welded'in the structure at desired locations andxutilized: for mounting apparatus within the housing.

I In order to simplify and reduce the cost of-Teach unitand also to make it possible to addadditional nits to; the original switchgear 'installati0n. t e

firstwonbasic unit of an installation is provided with-the removable left-handside sheet "I 4 and the flxed -ri'ght-hand side sheet II 4'. The rig'hthandsideisheet l4 maybewelded to thebase membersas well as to theZ- 'bars 4|. Theremovable left-hand side sheet I4 is attached to the trim strips 41 at the front and 41 at the rear by bolts 42. The trim strips 41 and 41' at the rear welded to the base members and to the Z bars 46. The trim strips 45 are attached to the fixed side sheet l4 by bolts 42.

As shown in Fig. 9, the first or basic unit comprises a base l8, a fixed side sheet M, a removable side sheet 14, the 2 bars 4| and 46 and thetrim strips 45 and 41. As shown in Fig. 10, each unit which is to be added to an original unit or units comprises a fixed side sheet I4, Z bars 4| and 46, the trim strips 41 and the base Hi.

If the additional unit is added on the left of the basic unit, as shown in Fig. 11, the side sheet I4 is first removed from the basic unit and the additional unit bolted into position on the lefthand side of the basic unit. The removable side sheet I4 is then installed in position on the lefthand side of the additional unit, thereby completing the enclosure. The additional roof structure may be added in th manner hereinbefore described.

If the additional unit is to be installed on the right-hand side of the basic unit, this may be done by removing the trim strips 45 fromthe right-hand side of the unit, then bolting the additional unit onto the right-hand side of the basic unit and installing the trim strips 45 on the right-hand side of the added unit, thereby completing the structure as shown in Fig. 11.

Thus, it will be seen that only one removable side sheet I4 is required for a complete installation, regardless of the number of units therein. However, the apparatus in each unit is completely isolated from the apparatus in the adjacent units, since a fixed side sheet I4 i provided between adjacent units. Accordingly, considerable material may be saved without sacrificing any of the protective features of metal-enclosed switchgear.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided metal-enclosed switchgear housings which may be manufactured and assembled in standardized units which are so 'constructed that any desired number of units may be assembled together in a switchgear installation, and additional units may be added as desired. The construction is such that a minimum amount of material is required, thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus. I

Since numerous changes may be made in the above-described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description ershown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted -as-illustrative. and

met ina limiting sense.

We claim'as our invention:- a I l. A metal-enclosed switchgear :housing "unit comprising, a'unitary-rectangularbaseoi formed metal side and-cross members welded together, an

upright Z member-welded to said base at'each corner thereof, each-Z membcr'having substantially" parallel" v I 'attachedto the upright members at -one-side of flanges; a side-sheet removably he base; another sidesheet secured to theupright members at the opposite side or the-base;- a-trim 1 strip attached to each upright member and havi a fOlded=backportion'disposedinalinement with the side sheet' on the upright member and spacedfronr one or the flangesof the upright memb'ena hinged'door at'th'e front and the rear prth'e unit; flanges on each" doondisposed-in the space between the flanges of the upright Z'members and their associated trim strip, and a metal roof supported by the upright members.

2. A metal-enclosed switchgear housing unit comprising, a unitary rectangular base of metal side and cross members welded together, a vertically disposed Z bar welded to the base at each corner thereof, each Z bar having substantially parallel flanges, a side sheet removably attached to the Z bars at one side of the base, another side sheet welded to the 2 bars at the opposite side of the base, a trim strip attached to each Z bar and having a folded-back portion disposed in alinement with the side sheet on the 2 bar and spaced from one of the flanges of the Z bar, a door hinged to a Z bar at the front of the unit, another door hinged to a Z bar at the rear of the unit, said doors having flanges thereon disposed in the space between the flanges of the Z bars and their associated trim strips, and a metal roof supported by the 2 bars.

3. A plurality of adjacent switchgear housing units comprising, a unitary rectangular base for each unit, upright Z members welded to each base at its corners, each Z member having substantially parallel flanges, 'a side sheet welded to the upright members at one side'of each base,

another side sheet removably attached to the upright members at the outer side of one unit, a trim strip attached to each upright member and having a folded-back portion disposed in alinement with the side sheet on the upright member and spaced from one of the flanges of the upright member, a door at the front and the rear of each unit, flanges on each door disposed in the space between the flanges of the upright Z members and their associated trim strip, a metal roof sheet for each unit, sealing plates for the seams between adjacent roof sheets, and fastening means for connecting adjacent units together.

4. A plurality of adjacent switchgear housing units comprising, a unitary rectangular base for each unit, upright Z members secured to each base at its corners, each 2 member having substantially parallel flanges, a side sheet secured ber, flanges on each door disposed in the space I between the flanges of the upright 2 members and their associated trim strips, a roof sheet for each unit, sealing plates for the seams between adjacent roof sheets, and removable means for fastening adjacent units together.

5. A plurality of adjacent switchgear housing units comprising, a unitary base for each unit, upright members secured to each base at the corners thereof, a side sheet secured to the upright members at one side of each base, another side sheet removably attached to the upright members at the outer side of one unit, a roof sheet for each unit, each roof sheet having upstanding flanges at its sides, substantially right angle-shaped sealing plates for the seams between adjacent flanges, tongue plates on the sealing plates, said tongue plates being disposed between said flanges and extending below the undersurface of the roof sheets, wedges disposed in the tongue plates and engaging the undersurface of the roof sheets to retain the sealing plates in position, and fastening means for connecting adjacent units REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 782,135 Hoult Feb. 7, 1905 1,121,422 Tydings Dec. 15, 1914 1,450,180 Jamison a Apr. 31, 1923 1,506,442 OHara Aug. 26, 1924 2,058,263 Rosendale 'Oct. 20, 1936 2,072,383 Rottman Mar. 2, 1937 2,196,399 Rubel Apr. 9, 1940 2,279,945 Hoilman Apr. 14, 1942 

